Thousands rally behind Bolsonaro amid coup probe in Brazil

Thousands of supporters of former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro gathered on the streets of Sao Paulo on Sunday to protest the allegations against him that could lead to his imprisonment, Report informs via DW.

Bolsonaro is being investigated over his role in an alleged coup attempt on January 8, 2023, when his supporters stormed government buildings in the capital Brasilia after the far-right lawmaker lost the presidential election to leftist Luiz Ignacio Lula da Silva at the end of 2022.

An estimated 185,000 people showed up for the rally, according to independent observers, filling up the city's Paulista Avenue.

At the rally, Bolsonaro spoke for 20 minutes, denying the charges that he planned a coup to stay in power after losing the election in October 2022.

"What is a coup? It is tanks on the streets, weapons, and conspiracy. None of that happened in Brazil," he said.